Integrating Core and Aeromagnetic Datasets to Evaluate Mineral Potential of Southern Nupe Basin, Nigeria

Abstract Aeromagnetic and core drilled data covering parts of southern Nupe Basin was acquired and interpreted with the view to evaluating the mineral potentials of the area through interpretation of the structural features in the area; determination of the curie isotherm depth; and correlation of aeromagnetic outcomes with the core sample data from the area. Two major regional fault trends were interpreted, trending, Northeast–Southwest (NE–SW) and NNE–SSW with minor northwest–southeast (NW–SE) directions. Two depth sources in the area are delineated namely; zone of shallow seated basement which ranges from 0.42km to 1.5km and zone of deeply seated basement which ranges from 1.91 to 3.50km.Results of qualitative interpretation of the Total magnetic intensity map (TMI) and Residual intensity map reveal that the magnetic intensities ranges from 7500 to 8460 nano-Telsa (nT) and -220 to 240 nT respectively. The depth to the centroid and top of the magnetic caustic bodies ranges from 9.00 to 17.10km and 0.4 to 3.10km respectively. Juxtaposing the topographical and core drilling data reveals that the oolitic iron ore level follows the topographical level which implies that the topography of the area controls the configuration of the iron ore deposit level. All these deduction are made considering the geology of the area.